This study is investigating how organic fouling affects the fate of DBPs during nanofiltration. The organic matter of a secondary effluent was systematically altered by anion exchange resins (AER), ozonation, and dilution. Treated and unaltered waters were disinfected and a mixture of DBPs were added before circulating through a bench-scale crossflow system with a NF 90 membrane for 7 days. Membrane performance and DBP rejection were monitored throughout experiments. The organic matter character and membrane surface before and after fouling were also analyzed. The fouling layers produced by AER-treated water increased the membrane surface hydrophobicity and thereby increased rejection of the more hydrophobic DBPs (trihalomethanes) while the fouling produced by ozonated, diluted, and unaltered waters increased surface hydrophilicity and increased rejection of the less hydrophobic DBPs (haloacetonitriles). These findings have important implications on membrane choice and pre-treatment of waters, as chloramination tends to favor production of the less hydrophobic DBPs.

Impact of membrane fouling by organic matter on the fate of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during nanofiltration

248th National Meeting (2014)

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